Abstract：Isogeometric analysis of structure is an emerging numerical method in the field of computational solid mechanics, and it aims to integrate the computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) in a unified mathematical expression framework. Isogeometric analysis (IGA) is closely related to the geometric information, which combines the exact geometric modelling with structural analysis and design process, and provides a new choice and opportunity for structural design optimization. Compared with the finite element analysis-based optimization approach, the isogeometric analysis-based design optimization approach can improve solution accuracy, efficiency and convenience to some extent. For the representative isogeometric design optimization problems involving shape, size and topology optimization, this paper systematically summarizes the main isogeometric analysis-based optimization approaches and their applications in optimum structural design. Moreover, the characteristics of algorithm and the corresponding computational advantages and disadvantages of isogeometric analysis-based optimization approaches are comparatively analyzed and reviewed, and some frontier issues of the IGA-based structural optimization are discussed. Meanwhile, the development directions of future research on the IGA-based structural optimization are presented, such as the efficient IGA and optimum design based on the complex trimming CAD geometry, the IGA and optimum design of structure based on the constructive solid geometry, the optimum structural design by combining IGA with other mechanical analysis methods, the IGA-based optimum design of shell, the IGA-based integrated optimum design of material and structure, and the IGA-based optimum design considering uncertainties, etc.
2018, Vol. 39 
